Is Bmax the answer???
 

I have a single engine setup with a motor that makes an honest 1000+HP. I can't fit a transmission, so I have little in the way of drive choices. Presently I have an XR Sportmaster, and I know its days are numbered if I put 1000HP to it.

So the question is this, Will the Bmax solve my problem?
I'm looking for members with actual experience here. I don't want my questions answered by Bmax dealers. I'm hoping to get unbiased info from OSO members.

Thanks

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

You will have as many problems with the lower on a Bmax ( prop shafts etc..) as you will with your upper on your XR I say save your money for repairing the one you have rather than repairing the new one.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

You might look into a surface drive. arneson or PSI. either one has a conversion where your engine doesn't have to move. Then it would be bullet proof.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

call jason ansd aaron at max machine worx...
they "upgrade" the bravo 1 beyond strong...

i am pushing over 1000 hp and run it hard...

929.505.7860 in lake havasu, az...

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

gmnhra,

That's great info that will definately come in very handy!! Thanks

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

If you decide on a BMax, I have a friend who has one for sale with less than 5 hrs and I think he wants $7,500 for it.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

www.KonradMarine.com

Check them out!

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

Why Wouldn't You Want To Talk To A B-max Dealer? You Want To Beleave OLD Hear Say Or You Want The Truth. Ron Bender 216-390-1330

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

I have seen your posts, and I don't have a problem with what you said. I just wanted to hear from actual owners and their opinions first. This is not a decision I wish to make based exclusively on the dealer.

Thanks,

Re: Is Bmax the answer??? Its really your choice..
 

I see where you dont want to hear from dealers,but then you want to take the advise of people that dont have them and only tell you what they read or heard while some of them I bet still have old style Bravos.
I my self, Have them,use them (second year) with about the Just a little under the power as you and have not had hardly any problems. Had a selector bolt backoff..
Check with B-max theirself, I have a full ride for the next two years. They sell insurance that the most it can cost you is 250.00 for either a repair or a new drive. who else will offer you a deal like that? :) :)
Before I bought them I had different drives with my blown engines and kept breaking drives.when I checked with b-max they told me drag race,go over a hundred, shut them down fast and it they break they would fix or replace them. Good enough for me, they even put it in writing. what more can I say?On different poker runs I have had my boat verical and when it came back to the water stern first it killed the engines but after I got them started again,we were again off,nothing broke. this happen on Lake Erie and also on Lake michigan.I cant say that any used one or one of their dealers can make the above agreement but B-max theirselves sure can..and did!!

eliminator219

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

I have them on my Hustler.175 hours. They should hold up to that kind of power if you take care with it. Mine are real hard to shift. I guess its because of the bigger gears . [It is not the cables]. I have had some problems with water getting in them . He has warranted it every time .The foots on them are close to the xr drives . The bravo shop prop shaft is steel unlike the others which are stainless.

Alot of the HTM's are using them drag racing them.A lot has to do with the driver also.


If I was going to buy one .I would use sport master foot or the Imco foot on the B-max .


I had the Imco extreme stuff on my blown Scarab and broke a prop shaft and a few pinion gears,I never stabbed it from idle or jumped ot out of the water. I have heard of the xr breaking the pinion gears also.


Rob

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

My bud had some significant "teething problems" with his Bmaxes. One had some bad parts in it from the factory originally and was a mother to shift. They fixed that.

Next, the "good one" locked in fwd and wouldn't come out (at about 5 hours). They fixed that.

Then, they both got water in them (at 10 hours). They fixed that.

Then we went to the Cumberland Poker run and one lost a propshaft seal and bearing, and both had several broken studs that hold the lower on - realy scary when we looked at it on the trailer (that was with 20 hours total on them). These were lowers purchased FROM Bravo Shop, not XR lowers. They fixed them.

The drives currently have over 50 hours on them. They have been running with no issues since they came back that last time. Fingers are crossed.

Boat is 42 MTI/Fountain with "turned up" 575SCi's.

Good thing they had warranties on them, cause I assure you that the boat had been operated exactly like most of us would consider "proper". Babied coming out of the hole, try to keep the boat in the water all the time, backing off in the air - easy back on when back in the water.

Seem to be massive beefy drives. Setup issues are critical and I'm not entirely sure that quality control is/was in place for the events to have occurred on these drives.

Just an FYI. Owner of these drives says there is still no other option he would have considered. He is planning to go to 850hp if the drives perform well this year.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

Thanks for all the good info guys-

You raised many good points that were bothering me. I'm a little worried about the shifting. But Dean assured me thats not an issue any more.

The new bmax lower is built in house and has the size and specs I'm looking for so that not an issue to me. (not to mention the old Xr sportmaster can bolt on)

I am concerned about the water leak, I'd like to know what caused that-

The final issue for me is parasitic loss. Dean claims it only takes a few HP to turn the Bmax over the XR, But many others claim 5mph loss. I'm in the position were I should have more HP than the hull can handle. So a small loss is acceptable. But I do plan to test the XR verse the bmax to determine this loss. Anyone with real world experience on this issue?

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

On the shifting thing , He went back thru mine June of 2003 and they still are hard to shift. It must be the size of the gears?

The water prob was in the machining of the top cap alignment. I think there will be a little loss in mph . but its the price you have to pay >look at the speed masters loss.

I just replaced the shift cable on mine today :hothead:it broke and the gears are not even showing a wear pattern :) Had one season on the oil and very little metal on the plug. so far so good.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

I have 3 years and 240 hours on mine in my 25' cat with 1200 hp at 120+. I take it pretty easy getting on plane and accelerating up to around 60, then I go to WOT. I have broken maybe 3 prop shafts and maybe 3 vertical shafts and thrashed one set of upper gears. They would not replace any of these components under warranty because I have over 850 hp. I am now running the IMCO SC lower with B-Max components. Mine shifts just fine. Good luck with your decision.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

The Problems Of Water Leaks In The Drives Have Been Taken Care Of Over 2 Years Ago. Most Leaks today Come From The Customer Not Being Careful When Bolting Back Cover On After Mounting Drive. Surfaces Must Be Clean & O-rings can Not Slip!!! cover must be cleaned and a spray tac applied so o-ring can not slip. The Newer Style Back Cover Has Less O-rings For Easier Installation. All Drives Are Pressure Tested At The Factory Before Shipment. If A Water Leak Does Accrue The Problem Will Be Taken Care Of By B-max.:)

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

have a friend that went through a few sets of B-maxes on his 37 Talon running 800's. He got so frustrated he traded the boat back in for the same boat rigged with #6's.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

I have heard of stories about the talons and spectra's breaking the prop shafts ,running on the surface. It may because of the 4340 steel in the prop shaft Just a thought ?. I don't think the bravos where designed to run on the surface anyway.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

imco 4x4 with trany in the ext box????

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

I've heard 4x4's are not holding up

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

36 Eliminator with 750 H.P. per engine never made 1 trip without
breaking 22Gs of B-Maxs.I think Imco 4x4 would be a better choice.
This is a friends boat and witnessed problems first hand.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

Frankie on Lake George likes the B-Maxx internals the best and this is a pic of his small engine in his 26 cat. He runs the big engine with the B-Max drive also!!!

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

So I buy the bmax and water keeps leaking in. Some of you have experience with this. It's not a an O ring, but maybe I need some tack spray? Dean isn't really helping.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

Well next time some one asks this question you will be able to tell them what others told you.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

You told me to stay with an XR. Do you really think any XR can handle 1000+HP without absolutely babying it? If so, your in the minority. Not to mention this engine just made over 1250HP on the dyno.

I'm asking other Bmax owners with water issues for their take on this. Has anyone needed to use perfect seal on the O-rings? How about pressure testing and at what pressure?

Most Bmax owners have nothing bad to say. I know this is a simple fix, and I will straighten it out. I'm just trying to speed up the process.

Thanks

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

I heard he has redisigned the orings on the new ones.It has a bunch of oringsand they are thin.at 1250 hp I think you will be pushing it on the top section . The bottom will be close to a stanard xr . the bottom will be your week link.'

The other thing to think about is the poin yoak are the same on them.

With that kind of power you may not even beable to load it hard enough to break untill it gets streched. I ran a Bravo 1 4 blade On my Scarab and I could cavitate it just about any time I wanted to stab it.It would burn the prop.

Hustler starting putting the arnisons and Joe said there real close to the same price

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

Problem solved.

Pressure test showed the drain plug was leaking. Thanks for everyones help. Once the new engine is in next week, I'll update everyone.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

I am having a different problem with B-Max. They were supposed to have a pair of them to me June 1 and we still do not have them. the boat is completely done and I cannot go boating as I have no drives. They will not even give us the courtesy of returning a phone call.
Dean if you read this call me at 515 975-9807.
Steve

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

I like the b max, but have you checked into the weismann's? The have a couple of drives out there that rock. www.weismann.net if you call ask for Pat.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

What kind of boat are you running this drive on? And I must not have read this correctly, do you already have a B-max?

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

I had a sportmaster Xr and now I have the bmax. The boat is a 2003 Checkmate zt260.

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

B-Max, never broke the upper, just the IMCO lowers...Dean needs to make a lower. :)

Re: Is Bmax the answer???
 

He did build a lower and I have it. Seems to work very well. I cracked a prop so far, but nothing in the drive has failed with 1000HP.